Bread-baking machinery



June 12, 1928.

J. E. POINTON BREAD BAKING MACHINERY 2 sheets-sheet Filed DeC. 5,. 1925 Fig2 J.' 15. Poli/mn June 12, 1928.

f 1,672,954 J. E. EolNToN BREAD BAKING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented J une 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF JOHN EDWARD 1,672,954 I C E POINTON, or PETERBoiwUen,` ENGLAND, AssIoNoR V'ro BAKER PER- xINs COMPANY INCORPORATEn or NEW YORK, N.,Y. y

BREAD-BAKING MACHINERY.

`Application iiled December 5, 1925, Serial No.` 73,435, and in Great Britain February 13, 1925.

This invention relates to bread baking machinery including continuous bread baking ovens of the type having an endless chain conveyor provided lwith swinging trays or shelves whercon the' loaves are carried in a circuitous course through the oven or baking chamberI between rows or tiers of heating elements. r f l l t lhe 'object of the invention is toprovide lo simple and convenient means for maintaining the symmetrical form of the loaves during the baking process and throughout their progress through the oven. i ,i

'l`hei'nvention comprises theemployment oit shields` covers, or the like `for the loaves whereby theyl are protected from the action olf convection curre-ntsor vother influences tending to promote distortion` such protection being aifordedwithout interference with the usual expansion or growth of the loaves that occurs during the baking process.

Referring to the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings y Figure 1 is an elevation showing, in dia- 5 grammatic form, one oven'of'the type aforesaid suitable for the application 0f the 1nvention, whilst Figure 2 is aplan showing a portion of the endless chain conveyor of said oven with threeof theshelves suspended :so therefrom.

Figure 3 is `an elevation showing, to a` larger scale, one of the shelves with the cradle like ends whereby it is suspended from the conveyor, whilst Figure 4 is an elevation to a still larger scale, ,showing one ot' said cradle end and a portion of a shelf, and Figure 5 an end view of the same.

Like reference letters in `the `different views indicate the same or similar parts.

In the illustrated application of the invention the said shields,guards, or covers as a are of sheet metal or other suitable-material and ot' tubular and conical form and may be open at each end, each shield being preferably of such size as to permit of its being placed overoneloaf as b lwhen the latter has been set on a tray or shelf c but without contact with the loaf. Suchinsertion of a shield over each loaf can be very readily effected when each shelf hasl its full complement of loaves set or placed thereon during the movement of .the conveyor. Thus, as the shelves arrive before the operative at the front end d of the oven or other convenient charging position, each shelf is charged with the loaves or dough portions to be baked and over eachloat' on the shelf there is placed a shield such as aforesaid. The shields'niay advai'ltagcously he brought toitheihands of the said` operative by `the shelf that inimeriliately succeeds the shelf just charged with loaves or dough portions at the charging level. `The sh'ields carried on the` shelf immediately succeeding that charged with dough portion are then lifted ofi' andplaced over the dough portions on the tray at the charging level, thus providing an empty tray ready to receive another charge of loaves or dough portion.

In the example illustrated at Figure l, d is the frontzor charging end and e the rear or discharging end of the oven. The endless chain conveyor f extends circuitously through the oven g being supported by guide pulleys as li. The shelves c, provided with a guard rail c' (Figure 5) extending along each side, are carried by or form part oi cradle like ends y' pivotally mounted upon or slung from theconveyor f, and as the said shelves with the loaves b thereon are carried in a circuitous course through the i oven, they pass between the steam tube or other known heating elements as lc. The

loaves as o are set or placed on the shelves c, and a shield or cover as a put over the loaves, at the front end d of the oven. At the rear end e of the oven the loaves and shields are removed from the shelves which then return to the front end for re-charging.` On the arrival of the rst loaded shelf at the rear end of the oven the operative at that end, after unloading the shelf permits it to return empty, or without shields thereon, to the front end but after unloading each succeeding sheltI he returns the trays thereto. VVhen'the said empty shelf arrives at the position Z at the front of the oventhe `operative at that end l'ills same with loaves and places over them the shields or covers from the immediately following shelf at the position m. The shelf m thus cleared passes on to the position Z Where it is loaded with loaves and the shields or covers therefor as aforesaid. The same operation is repeated on all subsequent shelves as they arrive at and pass from the front of the oven.

The shields, guards, or covers a may be made in various forms. Instead of providing a shield for each loaf one shield may cover a plurality or group of loaves.` The shelf f3 each loaf is enclosedby a-cove1z or.

shield a.

It is also to be noted upon` reference'to4 i Fig. i2 and 5 that'the shields or covers a are arranged in close relation with respect to each other longitudinally of the shelf and in close relation with the sides or guard rails so that excessive longitudinal.y or transverse movement' of the trays is avoided even during a sudden startii'ig or stopping of the endless chaincarriers It is to be appreciated also that the iner surfaces of the covers or. shields `willbe suitably greasedvso that even should the loaves thereincontact therewith they. wouldmot be materially damaged.`

Having thus described my inventionwhat I- claim; asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent=is:- f

1. In bread baking ovens, the combination comprising loaf shelves. formingpartof endf less chain conveyorsieach shelf adaptedvto carry a plurality of loaves, and a shield for each loaf. on .each l shelf such shield forming with the shelf an enclosure so surrounding the loaf asto separate saine from contactl withits neighbours and maintain the symmetrical forni of the loaf Whilst affording freedom for the ex ansion of the same-both longitudinally andi' laterally during the baltin recess.

' 2.V Iii read'baking ovens the combination, of an endless chain conveyor operable through the oven and including a plurality of shelves Ieach of whichis adapted to `carry aA plurality ofloaves, longitudinal guard rails onthe sides of each of the shelves, a plurality of shields arranged in close relation with respect to cach other longitudinally of each shelfand in close relation with the guard rails, onesliield being` arranged over cach loaf and coacting with the shelf to form an enclosure so surrounding the-lont as to separate. the same from contacting with adjacent loaves and in addition maintaining the symmetrical form of the loaf whilst affording freedom/for the expansion of the same both longitudinally and laterally during the baking process. In testimony whereof I name tothis specification.

.IOHNEDWARD POINTON.

havevsigned my 

